SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION LIKELY TO BUMP UP PAY OF LOW-INCOME EMPLOYEES

New Delhi: Low-income employees are set for more pay bump after the Seventh Pay Commission recommendation to increase for those earning basic salary of up to Grade Pay Rs 4600 a month.

The move, which works out to be at least a 40 per cent pay rise, could benefit at least all non-gazetted employees, if the central government follow the recommendations.

An official with the Commission said that the Seventh Pay Commission is likely to recognize the non-gazetted employees with upgrading skills for increasing their productivity to hike maximum pay.

“The Seventh Pay Commission wants to focus on Low-pay employees to give them hike pay that they are the most vulnerable group and should continue to benefit from nation’s growth,” he said.

After making the recommendation, it is noted that the all non-gazetted employees who earn a basic monthly salary with grade pay Rs 46,00 and below, will get at around 40 per hike from next year, the official added

He said the aim is to encourage pay hike which will be sustainable, and will urge to central government to focus on helping workers to deepen their skills and to raise productivity.

“Real pay hikes should be in line with productivity growth over the long term,” the official said.

The official added that higher officers can be given hike pay taking into account their performance, prospects and sustainability.

Besides pay hikes, the Seventh Pay Commission is likely to recommend to hike medical benefits, House rent allowance, transport allowance and other allowances for central government employees.

The Seventh Pay Commission, headed by Justice A K Mathur, was appointed by the previous UPA government in February 2014 for 18 months. Its terms was extended in August 2015 by four months till December 31, 2015. The recommendations of the commission would be implemented from January 1, 2016.

The government constitutes the Pay Commission almost every 10 years to revise the pay scale of its employees and often these are adopted by states after some modifications.

As part of the exercise, the Commission holds discussions with various stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing civil employees as well as Defence services.